Sealant Application Tool

Abstract

A method and apparatus for applying a sealant. A sealant application system is positioned over a fastener. The sealant application system comprises an elongate member, a first channel, a nozzle, a second channel, and a biasing system. The elongate member has a first end connected to a sealant source for the sealant and a second end. The first channel extends through the elongate member from the first end to the second end. The nozzle has an input associated with the first end of the elongate member and an output. The second channel extends through the nozzle from the input to the output. The first channel is in communication with the second channel. The biasing system is configured to engage an outer surface of the nozzle and move on the outer surface of the nozzle such that the second channel changes shape. The sealant is applied onto the fastener.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an elongate member having a first end and a second end;   a first channel extending through the elongate member from the first end of the elongate member to the second end of the elongate member;   a nozzle having an input and an output, wherein the input of the nozzle is associated with the first end of the elongate member;   a second channel extending through the nozzle from the input of the nozzle to the output of the nozzle, wherein the first channel is in communication with the second channel; and   a biasing system configured to engage an outer surface of the nozzle, wherein the biasing system is configured to move on the outer surface of the nozzle such that the second channel changes shape.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is a first elongate member and wherein the biasing system comprises:
 a second elongate member having a first end and a second end;   a third channel extending through the second elongate member from the first end of the second elongate member to the second end of the second elongate member, wherein the third channel is configured to receive at least a portion of the first elongate member and at least a portion of the nozzle, wherein the first end of the second elongate member is configured to engage the outer surface of the nozzle, and wherein movement of the first end of the second elongate member on the outer surface of the nozzle and along an axis through the nozzle causes the second channel to change shape.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing system further comprises:
 a positioning system configured to position the second elongate member along the axis.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the positioning system comprises:
 a first plurality of teeth associated with a wall in the third channel of the second elongate member; and   a second plurality of teeth associated with a surface on the first elongate member, wherein the first plurality of teeth is configured to engage the second plurality of teeth such that the second elongate member is held in a position relative to the first elongate member and to guide the movement of the second elongate member relative to the first elongate member along the axis.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the positioning system comprises:
 an engagement member on a surface of the first elongate member;   a channel in the second elongate member, wherein the engagement member engages the channel and is configured to hold the second elongate member in a position relative to the first elongate member and to guide the movement of the second elongate member relative to the first elongate member along the axis.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises:
 a one-piece shell having a flexibility that is configured to change shape in response to movement of the biasing system on the outer surface of the nozzle such that the second channel changes shape.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises:
 a plurality of panels configured in a shape for the nozzle, wherein the plurality of panels has a flexibility that is configured to allow the second channel to change shape.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the biasing system is configured to change the shape of the nozzle. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is a cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the engagement member is a post on the surface of the first elongate member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a sealant source, wherein the second end of the elongate member is configured for attachment to the sealant source. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the sealant source has a housing and a cartridge located in the housing, wherein the cartridge contains a sealant, and wherein the cartridge is connected to the second end of the first elongate member such that the sealant is allowed to flow through the first channel for the first elongate member. 
     
     
         13 . A sealant application system for applying a sealant comprising:
 a first elongate member having a first end, a second end, and a first channel extending through the first elongate member from the first end of the first elongate member to the second end of the first elongate member;   a nozzle having an input associated with the first end of the first elongate member, an output, and a second channel extending through the nozzle from the input of the nozzle to the output of the nozzle in which the first channel is in communication with the second channel;   a second elongate member having a first end, a second end, and a third channel extending through the second elongate member from the first end of the second elongate member to the second end of the second elongate member, wherein the third channel is configured to receive at least a portion of the first elongate member and at least a portion of the nozzle, and wherein the first end of the second elongate member is configured to engage an outer surface of the nozzle;   a positioning system configured to guide movement of the second elongate member on the outer surface of the nozzle relative to the first elongate member along an axis through the nozzle, wherein the movement of the second elongate member on the outer surface of the nozzle causes the second channel to change shape.   
     
     
         14 . The sealant application system of  claim 13 , wherein the first elongate member, the nozzle, the second elongate member, and the positioning system form an applicator tool and further comprising:
 a sealant source having a housing and a cartridge located in the housing, wherein the cartridge contains the sealant and wherein the applicator tool is connected to the sealant source.   
     
     
         15 . The sealant application system of  claim 13 , wherein the positioning system comprises:
 a first plurality of teeth associated with a wall in the third channel of the second elongate member; and   a second plurality of teeth associated with a surface on the first elongate member, wherein the first plurality of teeth engage the second plurality of teeth such that the second elongate member is held in a position relative to the first elongate member.   
     
     
         16 . The sealant application system of  claim 13 , wherein the positioning system comprises:
 an engagement member on a surface of the first elongate member;   a channel in the second elongate member, wherein the engagement member engages the channel and is configured to hold the second elongate member in a position relative to the first elongate member.   
     
     
         17 . The sealant application system of  claim 13 , wherein the nozzle comprises:
 a one-piece shell having a flexibility that is configured to change shape in response to the movement of the second elongate member on the outer surface of the nozzle such that the second channel changes shape.   
     
     
         18 . The sealant application system of  claim 13 , wherein the nozzle comprises:
 a plurality of panels configured in a shape for the nozzle, wherein the plurality of panels has a flexibility that is configured to allow the second channel to change shape.   
     
     
         19 . A method for applying a sealant, the method comprising:
 positioning a sealant application system over a fastener, wherein the sealant application system comprises an elongate member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a sealant source for the sealant; a first channel extending through the elongate member from the first end of the elongate member to the second end of the elongate member; a nozzle having an input and an output, wherein the input of the nozzle is associated with the first end of the elongate member; a second channel extending through the nozzle from the input of the nozzle to the output of the nozzle, wherein the first channel is in communication with the second channel; and a biasing system configured to engage an outer surface of the nozzle, wherein the biasing system is configured to move on the outer surface of the nozzle such that the second channel changes shape; and   applying the sealant onto the fastener.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 determining whether a shape of the nozzle needs to be changed; and 
 responsive to a determination that the shape of the nozzle needs to be changed, changing the shape of the nozzle by moving the biasing system on the outer surface of the nozzle such that the second channel changes shape.